Apprentice CNC Machinist
A-TEK ENGINEERING LIMITED
Buckinghamshire (MK43 0UT)
Closes in 13 days (Tuesday 28 July 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 14 July 2026
Contents
Summary
You will work alongside our Head Engineer and Business Owner, who began his career as an apprentice. Learn first-hand how he progressed to running a successful CNC engineering business that manufactures and supplies precision parts to a wide range of industries, including defence, automotive, and more.
- Wage
-
£16,640 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Annual Salary
- Training course
- Machining technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday- Thursday 9am- 4pm/ Friday 9am- 3pm.
37 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 2 November 2026
- Duration
-
3 years 6 months
- Positions available
-
2
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
If you're someone who likes getting hands-on, figuring out how things work, and seeing the results of your work every day, this could be the role for you! Based mainly in our workshop, you'll learn how precision-engineered components are manufactured and play a key role in keeping production running smoothly.
You'll:
- Prepare finished parts ready for packing and assembly
- Check components to make sure they meet our quality standards
- Help keep machinery running efficiently by clearing sumps and assisting with tool changes
- Keep the workshop clean, organised, and safe
- Learn how to read and understand technical engineering drawings
- Gain knowledge of different materials and how they're used in manufacturing
- Learn how to use precision measuring equipment and work to tight tolerances
- Spot and report any faults or issues that could affect the quality of components
- As your skills grow, support the team with machine set-up, loading, and operation
This is a great opportunity to develop practical engineering skills, work with industry-standard machinery, and build the knowledge needed for a career in advanced manufacturing and engineering. We're looking for someone who is enthusiastic, practical, keen to learn, and ready to kick-start a career in engineering. If you enjoy working with your hands, solving problems, and seeing the results of your work, this could be the perfect opportunity for you.
Where you'll work
Unit 7 Crawley Crossing
Husbourne Crawley
Milton Keynes
Buckinghamshire
MK43 0UT
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
MILTON KEYNES COLLEGE
Training course
Machining technician (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Comply with statutory health and safety regulations and procedures.
- Comply with environmental, ethical and sustainability regulations and procedures: safe disposal of waste, re-cycling or re-use of materials and efficient use of resources.
- Prepare and set up conventional or CNC machines.
- Operate and adjust conventional or CNC machines.
- Apply risk assessment and hazard identification processes and procedures in the work area.
- Monitor, obtain and check stock and supplies, and complete stock returns.
- Record information - paper based or electronic. For example, energy usage, job sheets, risk assessments, equipment service records, test results, handover documents and manufacturers' documentation, asset management records, work sheets, checklists, waste environmental records and any legal reporting requirements.
- Read and interpret information. For example, data and documentation used to produce machined components.
- Apply engineering, mathematical and scientific principles.
- Plan and organise own work and resources.
- Follow and apply inspection, quality assurance procedures and processes.
- Select machining process.
- Select and setup tooling and work holding devices.
- Set and adjust machine operating parameters. For example, setting feeds and speeds for roughing and finishing operations, loading, proving and validating programs when using a CNC machine tool.
- Apply machining operations and techniques to produce complex components with features. For example, parallel; stepped; angular diameters and faces; grooves; slots; recesses and undercuts; radii and chamfers; internal and external forms and profiles; reamed; bored; drilled and electro eroded holes; internal and external screw threads.
- Measure and check components.
- Select and check condition of tools and equipment. Identify issues, resolve and take action as needed.
- Identify and action issues in the manufacturing process.
- Apply fault-finding and diagnostic testing procedures to identify faults. Diagnose and resolve issues. Escalate issues.
- Maintain the work area and return any resources and consumables.
- Communicate with others verbally. For example, colleagues and stakeholders.
- Follow machine shut down, safe isolation, handover, start up or warm up procedures. Escalate issues.
- Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement.
- Apply ethical principles.
- Apply team working principles.
- Comply with statutory health and safety regulations and procedures.
- Comply with environmental, ethical and sustainability regulations and procedures: safe disposal of waste, re-cycling or re-use of materials and efficient use of resources.
- Prepare and set up conventional or CNC machines.
- Operate and adjust conventional or CNC machines.
- Apply risk assessment and hazard identification processes and procedures in the work area.
- Monitor, obtain and check stock and supplies, and complete stock returns.
- Record information - paper based or electronic. For example, energy usage, job sheets, risk assessments, equipment service records, test results, handover documents and manufacturers' documentation, asset management records, work sheets, checklists, waste environmental records and any legal reporting requirements.
- Read and interpret information. For example, data and documentation used to produce machined components.
- Apply engineering, mathematical and scientific principles.
- Plan and organise own work and resources.
- Follow and apply inspection, quality assurance procedures and processes.
- Select machining process.
- Select and setup tooling and work holding devices.
- Set and adjust machine operating parameters. For example, setting feeds and speeds for roughing and finishing operations, loading, proving and validating programs when using a CNC machine tool.
- Apply machining operations and techniques to produce complex components with features. For example, parallel; stepped; angular diameters and faces; grooves; slots; recesses and undercuts; radii and chamfers; internal and external forms and profiles; reamed; bored; drilled and electro eroded holes; internal and external screw threads.
- Measure and check components.
- Select and check condition of tools and equipment. Identify issues, resolve and take action as needed.
- Identify and action issues in the manufacturing process.
- Apply fault-finding and diagnostic testing procedures to identify faults. Diagnose and resolve issues. Escalate issues.
- Maintain the work area and return any resources and consumables.
- Communicate with others verbally. For example, colleagues and stakeholders.
- Follow machine shut down, safe isolation, handover, start up or warm up procedures. Escalate issues.
- Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement.
- Apply ethical principles.
- Apply team working principles.
Training schedule
You’ll work towards the Machining Technician Apprenticeship Standard with MK College.
Training includes:
- Practical on-the-job learning in our Toolroom
- Day release at Milton Keynes College (Chaffron Way Campus)
- Machining, materials, and engineering principles
- Health & safety and quality standards
- CNC and advanced manufacturing exposure
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- Maths (grade 9-5)
- English (grade 9-4)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Time Keeping
- Communication
Other requirements
- As part of the role, you'll be responsible for organising your journey to work and college each day
About this employer
Established in 2021, we are a family owned and run engineering company based in Bedford, Buckinghamshire with many years of experience within the industry. We work to a ISO 9001:2015 accredited standard, the majority of our work consists of very tight tolerances as standard, so we are very skilled in manufacturing intricate components on a regular basis.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
- Potential to grow into a fulltime role should one be available on completion of the apprenticeship
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
MILTON KEYNES COLLEGE
Sonia Harris
Apprenticeships@mkcollege.ac.uk
01908 637056
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000042599.
Apply now
Closes in 13 days (Tuesday 28 July 2026 at 11:59pm)